Available now at : “The Geoffrey de Havilland Story” – a drama documentary by commercial and display pilot Steve Bohill-Smith and award-winning, BAFTA nominated Director of Photography Ashley Rowe BSC.
The home-made flying machine had just been rolled out of a shed in a field on the Highclere estate in Hampshire. It was the winter of 1909. After a few adjustments to the Iris engine all seemed to be running well. Over the preceding few weeks a number of short taxi trials had been made down the slope and the machine had been found to keep surprisingly straight. Nerves were becoming strained as the nights were closing in and the weather was invariably unfavourable, the wind often blowing in the wrong direction to attempt a first take off. Geoffrey de Havilland had not flown or even seen another aeroplane at close quarters before.
The words determination, courage and persistence spring to mind. Geoffrey de Havilland was a true aviation pioneer and was responsible for the design of many important aircraft, from the Be2 biplanes of WW1 to the DH.98 Mosquito fighter bomber of WW2, to the first jet fighters post-war, to the first long-range jet airliner the DH.106 Comet. He created one of the largest aviation companies in the world which was always at the leading edge of technology. He was Knighted in 1944.
The film, produced by Flying Horse Films Ltd., has a running time of just over two hours and is available now on The People’s Mosquito eBay shop , priced at £22 including p&p.
Profits from sales go directly towards returning the Mosquito to British skies.
Exactly where has the project and fundraising got to? Robert Kirkby, Trustee of The de Havilland Fund
Hello Robert, thanks for getting in touch. I have passed your query on to our Chairman, John Lilley who will respond as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience. Regards, Nick Horrox